S 599 
.U6 M59 
Copy 1 



Wisconsin geological and Natural History Survey. 

E. A. BIRGE, Director. W. O. HOTCHKISS, State Geologist 

A. R. WHITSON, In Charge, Division of Soils 

SOIL SURVEY IN COOPERATION WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
H. L. RUSSELL, Dkan 



BULLETIN NO. XXIV. 



SOIL SERIES NO. 1 



RECONNOISSANCE 



SOIL SURVEY 



^•.5f^r^ 




MARINETTE COUNTY 



BY 

SAMUEL WEIDMAN 
Wisconsin Geological and Natukal History Survey 

AND 

PERCY O. WOOD 
United States Department of Agriculture 



SURVEY CONDUCTED IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATBS 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS, 
MILTON WHITNEY, CHIEF. 



' ^u«a««»«*ft««A 



MADISON, WIS. <^£AubF_F«8H0^ 

PUBLISHED BY THE STATE 
191 1 ^ 



^. 



Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. 

E. A. BIRGE, Director. W. O. HOTCHKISS, State Geologist. 

. A R. WHITSON, In Charge, Division of Soils 

SOIL SURVEY IN COOPERATION WITH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
H. L. RT'SSELL. Dean 



BULLETIN NO. X.XIV. SOIL SERIES NO. 1 



RECONNOISSANCE 

SOIL SURVEY 



MARINETTE COUNTY 



BY 

SAMUEL )YEII)MAN 
Wisconsin Geological and Natural Histoby Survey 

AND 

PERCY O. WOOD 

United States Department of Agriculture 



SURVEY COXDUCTEI) IN COOPERATION AVITfl THE UNITED,JiX4XE9 
DEPARTMEN 



T OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU Q^'v?t3lti^rA&7>v. 
MILTON WHITNEY. CHIEF. y^^^\ ^ ^'" *^ * V 

«£0£IVEO • 



^. 




MADISON, WIS. 

PUBLISHED BY THE STATE 

19 1 1 



ORGANIZATION OF SURVEY. 



KOAUU or CO.llimsSIONKRS 

FRANCIS E. McGOVERN, 
Govc7-nor of the State. 

CHARLES R. VAN HISE, President. 

President of the University of Wisconsin. 

CHARLES P. GARY, Vice President. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

JABE ALFORD, 

President of the Commissioners of Fisheries. 

SAMUEL F. PLANTZ, Secretary. 

Pi-esident of the Wisconsiii Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



STAFF OV Till': SI KVI-:\ 

ADMINISTRATION: 

Edward A. Birge, Director and Superintendent. In immediate 

charge of Natural History Division. 
AViLLiAiSr O. HoTciiKiss, State Geologist. In immediate charge of 

Geology. 
F. G. Sanford. Clerk. 

GEOLOGY DIVISION: 

T. C. CiiAMnERLix, Consulting Geologist, Pleistocene Geology. 

"William O. Hotciikiss. In charge. Geology. 

Samuex Weidman. In charge, Areal Geology. 

Frederik T. TinvAiTES. Assistant, Geology. 

R. H. Whitheck. Assistant, Physical Geography. 

E. B. Hall, Assistant, Geology. 

E. F. Bea^. Assistant, Geology. 

F. E. Williams. Assistant, Geology. 

WATER POWER DIVISION: 

Leonard S. Smith. In charge. 

NATURAL HISTORY DIVISION: 
Edward A. Birge. In charge. 
CiiANCEY JuDAY. Lake Survey. 
George Wagner. Report on Fish. 
L. G. Lytle. Assistant, Lake Survey. 

E. H. Toole. Assistant, Lake Survey. 

DIVISION OF SOILS: 

Andrew R. Wiiitson.- In charge. 

F. L. Musback. Field Assistant and Analyst. 
Guy Conrey. Analyst. 

E. J. Graul. Analyst and Field Assistant. 

A. H. Meyer. Field Assistant and Analyst. 

L. R. ScHOENMANN. Field Assistant and Analyst. 

T. J. Dt-NNE\VALD. Field Assistant and Analyst. 



^e"^^ 



1)^ 



x^eS 



TABLE OF CONTEXTS 



Page 
Recox.xoissaxce Soil Survey of Marinette County, Wisconsin, 
By S. Weidman, of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural 
History Survey, and Percy O. Wood, of the United States 

Department of Agriculture 1-44 

Description of the area 1 

Climate 8 

Agriculture 12 

Soils 21 

Miami fine sandy loam 24 

Coloma fine sand 29 

Coloma fine sandy loam 30 

Plainfield sand 32 

Dunkirk fine sand 34 

Superior fine sandy loam 36 

Colojna loam 37 

Muck 39 

Peat 40 

Rock outcrop 41 

Summary 41 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PLATES. 

Page 
Plate i. Typical dairy farm on Miami fine sandy loam, sec. 10, 

T. 31, R. 22 16 

II. A characteristic home of new settlers on the Coloma 
sandy loam, T. 31, R. 20 E. A small orchard and 
clover field in the foreground 16 

III. Fig. 1. — Typical view of Plainfield sand, undeveloped, 

Jack-pine plains, sec. 4, T. 36, R. 2D. Fig. 2.— View 
• of farm developed on the Plainfield sand, sec. 5, 
T. 34, R. 20 32 

IV. Fig. 1. — View of Coloma loam, showing typical dense 

hardwood forest near Goodman. Fig. 2. — View of 
newly cleared field on Coloma loam at Goodman 32 



FIGURE. 

Fig. I. — Sketch map, showing location of the Marinette County 
aj'ea, Wisconsin 

MAP. 

Soil map, ^larinette County sheet, Wisconsin. 



PREFACE 



The AVisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey is car- 
i-^dng on a soil survey of Wisconsin in cooperation with the U. 
S. Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture of 
the University of Wisconsin. The primary object of this sur- 
vey is to make an inventory of the soils of the state; to secure 
Imowledge of the kinds of soil, their physical and chemical 
qualities, and the area and distribution of each kind. In the 
reports of the soil survey, therefore, the soils are described, 
classified, and mapped, as is done in the present report of the 
survey of Marinette County. 

In the northern and more sparsely settled portions of the 
state the survey is of a rapid and general character, and 
is termed a "reconnoissance survey." In those portions of the 
state where substantially all of the land is in farms, the survey 
is carried on with much greater detail. 

In the course of the reports on the soils of different areas 
general statements are made regarding the use and treatment of 
types of soil. These statements are carefully considered and 
are correct in the light of present knowledge. But it is plain 
tliat they cannot he based on careful study and experiment on 
tlie particular soils with which the report deals. Such an in- 
vestigation must be carried on by the College of Agriculture 
after the survey has been completed and a general knowledge 
of the 'soils has been obtained. It will take much time and 
many experiments to determine in detail the proper methods of 
maintaining and increasing the fertility of soils, and the crops 
to which they are best adapted. Meanwhile, the statements 
made in the reports give general advice which will be of service 
to the farmer. It must be remembered, however, that the main 
purpose of the report is to describe and map the soils of the 
county, or other area with which the report deals. Those who 
receive the reports should preserve them; to be used for ref- 
erence in connection with bulletins which the College of Agri- 
culture may issue later, and which will be specifically directed 
to tlie practical use of the soils. 



RHCONNOISSANCE SOIL SU RVHY OF MARINETTE 
COUXTY. WISIOXSIX. 



By S. Weidman, 

Of the Wisc'oasiu Geological and >;atur:il Historj Survey, 

AND 

Percy 0. Wood 

Of the Luited States Department of Agriculture. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 

Marinette County is situated in the northeastern part of the 
State of Wisconsin, lying adjacent to the southern end of the 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and separated from it by the 
Menominee River. It is bounded on the east and northeast 
by the Menominee River, on the north by Florence County, 
on the west hy Forest and Oconto Counties, on the south by 
Oconto County, and on the southeast has about 15 miles of 
sliore line on Green Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. The 
county lies approximately between parallels 45° and 45° 45' 
north latitude, and meridians 87° 35' and 88° 25' west long- 
itude. Its greatest length is 58 miles from north to south and 
its width varies from 24 to 32 miles. It is the third largest 
county in the State, containing 1,413 square miles, or 904,320 
acres. |l ■ ■ rJ. ;•, l^i iijii) 

The elevation of Marinette County above sea level ranges 
from 580 feet on the shore of Green Bay to probably over 
J ,500 or 1,600 feet in the northwestern part of the county. 
The IMenominee River at the head of Big Quinnesee Falls, in 
llie northern part of the county, has an altitude of 1,020 feet 
and descends to 580 feet at the harbor in Marinette. The 
Peshtigo River at the head( of Taylors Rapids, in the west 
central part, has an elevation of 1.227 feet, and falls to 580 



lUJCOXXOWSANCE fiOIL SURYEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



feet at Pesliligo Ilai-bor. Tlie altitude of the railroad station 
at Marinette is 600 feet, Peshtigo 602, Coleman 706, Pound 
714, Beaver 662, Ellis Junction 675. Wausaukee 736, Amberg 
889 and Pembine 968. 




I'lc. ]. Sketch map showinc: locntinii of ]\rarinctto rovinty roconnoissance sur- 
vey, aiifl other soil snrxpys of A\isfoiisiii. 

Tlie topograph}^ of the county varies from level plains to 
gently undulating and rolling areas. The areas of level plains 



The surveys of Marinette Co., of tlae North Western area, and of 
the North Central area, including Portage Co., may be obtained on ap- 
plication to the Wisconsin Geol. & Xat. Hist. Survey, Madison, Wis. 
The surveys of Marinette Co., Portage Co., Racine Co., and the Janes- 
ville, Viroqua, and Superior areas may be obtained on application to 
the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, or from the local 
Congressman or U. S. Senator. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. - 3 

and rolling lands alternate, their main direction being north- 
east and southwest. The streams, on the other hand, flow 
in a southeast direction, at right angles to the trend of the 
prevailing land features. In conformity with the general 
trend of the more prominent topographic divisions the small 
swamps and ridges have their longest direction northeast and 
southwest. 

The most prominent hills in the county are Silver Mountain 
and Thunder Mountain, both of which reach 400 to 500 feet 
above the surrounding country. Both these elevations are 
in the western part of the county. Silver Mountain being in 
T. 34, R. 17, and Thunder Mountain in T. 32, R. 18. 

The drainage of the entire country is toward the southeast. 
The tributaries of the Menominee River, which forms the 
northern and eastern boundary of the county, drain about 
three-fifths of the county, and the Peshtigo River and its 
tributaries drain about two-fifths. The principal tributaries 
of the Menominee are the Pike and the Peme Bon Won. The 
principal tribvitaries of the Peshtigo are the various streams 
(li-aining into Lake Nocque Bay and the Little Peshtigo River. 
There are many small lakes in the county, the most prominent 
of which are' Lake Nocque Bay, having an area of 4 or 5 
square miles, and Coleman Lake, Avith an area of less than 
1 square mile. 

The stream valleys are relatively broad and shallow; in 
only a few places are they deep and narroAv. Rapids and 
waterfalls are common. In the western part of the county 
the Peshtigo River, from Taylor Falls to the Lower Sandstone 
rapids, falls about 550 feet in about 43 miles. This part of 
the river is characterized by numerous rapids from 10 to 40 
feet in height. Between the rapids the descent is relatively 
slight. The Menominee and Pike Rivers also contain num- 
erous rapids. These numerous falls and rapids, which are 
almost entirely found in the area of crystalline rocks, make 
possible the development of a large amount of electrical power. 
A. $1,000,000 plant has recently been constructed at High 
Falls on the Peshtigo River for the purpose of supplying power 
to the city of Green Bay and the intervening country. One of 



4 RECOXXOT^'i^AXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

the largest \vc)()(l-j)iilp mills in the country is located at Niagara, 
in the northern part of the county on the Menominee River, 
where a fall in the river is utilized for power. The water- 
power possil)ilities of northern AVisconsin are becoming more 
and more important and ^larinette County will have no small 
share in this development. 

Marinette County lies in the great timbered area of north- 
ern Wisconsin, and agriculture is secondary to lumbering and 
the manufacturing of timber products. The original growth 
of Avhite pine has been quite generally removed, as it was long 
considered the only timber worth ciitting. Beginning about 
15 years ago, Norway pine, hemlock, and tlie various kinds of 
hardwoods, of Avliich there are many in the county, such as 
basswood, poplar, birch, and jack pine, have been utilized. 

There still remain a fe^v tracts of excellent pine OAvned by 
lumber companies in the northeast part of the area, and on 
the Coloma loam there is much fine hardwood, but aside from 
these areas the valuable timber has very largely been cut. Some 
poplar and hemlock is used by the paper mills at Marinette, 
Menominee, and Niagara. 

As the process of removing the magnificent forest covering 
has gone on, few settlers have entered upon agricidture, with 
the result that the county contains scattered settlements over 
the large areas of cut-over lands, awaiting the arrival of other 
setthn-s to turn the unoccupied areas into prosperous farming 
sections. In addition to these cut-over areas, which at present 
are developing a growth of scrubby oak, poplar, and birch, 
there exist many cedar and tamarack swamps which some 
day will also be made to contribute to the agricultural 
resources of the State. 

The earliest white settler in the region now comprised in 
Marinette County was an agent of the American Fur Co., 
Louis Chappienx, wlio located on the present site of Marinette 
in 1796. lie retained the monopoly of the fur trade until 
1822, on tlie arrival of William Farnsworth and Charles TJ. 
Brush. 

Marinette County was organized from the eastern and soull;- 
oastern portions of Ocontx) County in March, 1879. The 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 5 

coiiiity wlien first formed extended up the JMenominee River to 
include township 38, and thus contained what is now the 
eastern half of Florence County. Florence County was de- 
tached from Marinette and Forest Counties in 1884. 

The lumber business attracted the first permanent settlers 
to the county. The first sawmill in Marinette was erected in 
1832. The second mill, located at Twin Island, was built in 
1841. About 1854 to 1856 several mills were erected in Mar- 
inette and IMenekaunee. a suburb of jNIarinette. The original 
plat of Marinette was laid out and recorded in April, 1858. 
The first school was organized in 1857 and the first school- 
house erected in 1858. John G. Kittson, a clerk of the fur 
company in 1826, was the first man to break ground for a 
farm in the county. His farm and trading post were locateil 
at Wausaukee Bend on the Menominee River. 

Agriculture in the county was unimportant until within the 
eighties. The great tracts of pine land along the Peshtigo 
and Menominee Rivers, owned by the lumber companies of 
Marinette, Menominee, and Peshtigo, developed a highly pro- 
ductive business, which gave employment to all the early 
settlers of the region. The earliest farming in the county was 
liegun about 1870 in the settlements of the Upper, Middle and 
Lower Sugar Bushes, in the southern part of the county, in 
what is now the town of Grover. 

The Peshtigo fire of October 1, 1871, in which about 1,000 
people lost their lives, was a decided blow to the development 
of the county. The fire followed a long period of especially 
dry weather and is a memorable day in the history of Mar- 
inette County. At that time about 300 families lived in the 
three Sugar Bush settlements. Only eight houses remained 
after the fire. The village of Peshtigo was the center of great 
devastation. The great tracts of thickly forested lands burned 
over in various parts of the county gave added impetus to 
clearing the land for farming in the next few years. 

In 1860 the population of the towns of IMarinette and Pesh- 
tigo before the county was set off from Oconto County was 
1,044 and in 1875 it was 5,057. Since its organization the 
county, according to the State census, has reported the follow- 



G RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

ing population : In 1885, 13,494 ; in 1895, 19,417 ; -and in 1905, 
33,730. The population in 1910, United States census, was 
33,812. About one-half the population since 1885 has been in 
the city of Marinette! Of the entire population since 1885 
Mbout two-thirds has boon urban and about one-third rural. 

Nearly one-half of the early settlers Avere native-born Amer- 
icans. The most important foreign-born element Avas from 
Canada, of English and French extraction, in about equal 
proportion. Most of the French Canadians settled in the vil- 
lage of Peshtigo, and on farms about the village of Coleman. 
The important sources of immigration from Europe before 1885 
were Germany, SAveden and NorAvay, Great Britain, and Ire- 
land. Later the Polish became an important element. Bohe- 
mia, Austria, France, and Holland are also represented. In 
1905 the munber and nationality of the important foreign- 
born elem,ents Avere as f oIIoavs : Canadians, 2,288 ; Germans, 
2,257; SAvedes, 1,667; NorAvegians, 737; Polos, 757; Danes, 
315. 

Before the advent of public roads communication in the un- 
dcA^eloped country Avas very difficult. The Menominee and 
Peshtigo RiA'ers were the natural higliAvays for the fur traders 
and the lumbermen. The supply roads of the lumber compan- 
ies leading out from Marinette, Peshtigo, and Oconto Avere an 
important aid to early communication. For years after the rail- 
roads Avere built into the county the floating of logs doAA'u the 
rivers to IMarinette and Peshtigo Avas the principal method of 
bringing the timber to the saAvmills, and this is still an important 
means of transportation. 

From the time of earliest settlement in the county outside 
communication has been carried on by A'cssels on Green Ba\* 
and the Great Lakes. The first railroad reached Marinette 
from Green Bay in 1871. The next year this road, the Chi- 
cago & NortliAvestern RailAvay, Avas built from Menominee to 
Escanaba. Mich. The Peshtigo Lumber Co. at an early date 
built a railroad from Peshtigo to Peshtigo Harbor, Avhere it con- 
nects Avith a line of barges on the lakes. This railroad later 
developed into the Wisconsin & Michigan RailAvay, extending 
through the northern part of tbe county. In 1881 the Mihvau- 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. 7 

kee Northern Railroad, now the Chicago, JMilwaukee & St. 
Paul, was built tlirough Coleman, Wausaukee, etc., to eonuK't 
with Ontonagon,- Mich. It practically bisects the county in a 
north and south direction, and has the greatest mileage of my 
of the roads in the area. In addition to these lines, the 
]\[inneapolis. St. Paul & Sault Ste. ^larie Railroad traverses 
the northern part of the county from east to west. The 
city of Marinette, the county seat of Marinette County, in ad- 
dition to having three railroads, is so situated as to participate 
in the Great Lakes traffic, although the principal wharves are in 
iMenomiuee, ^lich., which is about the same size as Marinette, 
and is situated on the opposite bank of the Menominee River. 

^Marinette, population 14,610, is the principal town in the 
area, and is a thriving and prosperous little city, which owes, 
its origin and growth to the lumber industry, still the most im- 
portant business. Peshtigo, a town of about 2,500, is also a lum- 
ber town, and Wausaukee, the next in size, with about 1,200 
population, has a large sawmill as its most important feature. 
Aside from these local markets, together with Menominee, Mich., 
the iron and copper country of upper .Michigan furnishes a most 
excellent market for all kinds of farm products. Not only can 
Chicago prices be obtained in the copper country markets, but 
freight charges' are paid in addition, so that the various vege- 
tables and small fruits, grow^n at present on a very limited scale, 
as well as potatoes, hay, field peas, and the like, are readily dis- 
}K)sed of. 

A county agricultural school, established in 1905, is located at 
Marinette. The school is maintained jointly by the State and 
county and is doing excellent work in agricultural education. 
The general science of agriculture is taught aud practical demon- 
strations in farm work in its various phases are given. 

A sul)station of the State experiment station was established in 
1909 at Crivitz (Ellis Junction railroad station). The station 
is devoted to experimental work on crops best adapted to the 
sand soils and the general management of sandy soils. The 
results of the investigations M'ill be announced as soon as com- 
pleted. 



REC0NN01S8ANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



CLIMATE. 

Norllirni Wiseonsiu is famous I'or its ideal aiiluniii weather. 
The suiuiiiers, while warm during the day, almost uniformly 
have eool nights. The winters are long and usually dry and 
eold, snow often heing on the ground from December to April. 
The following tables, compiled from the records of the Weather 
Bureau Station at Florence, Crandon, and ]\Ienominee, show 
the normal monthly and annual temperature and precipitation. 
Florence is about 15 miles north of the north central part of 
^Marinette County, and Crandon is 38 miles west of the north- 
western part of ]\Iarinette County. The observations for Me- 
nominee, Mich., are taken only a half mile from the city of 
oMarinette, and are tlius applicable to southeastern ^lariuette 
County. 

The climate of IMai'inette Count>-, like that of most of "Wis- 
consin, is eliaracterized by considerable range in temj^erature. 
The ameliorating intluence of Green Bay and Lake ^Michigan 
on the southeast border of the county is important only from 5 
to 10 miles from the shore line. Sometimes a temperature as 
low as — 35° F. is reached in winter, while the mercury some- 
times passes the 100° F. mai'k in summer, giving a range of 
135°. The coldest weather usually ocelli's during the latter 
part of January and the first of February, and the warmest 
M-eather in July and August. 

The normal temperature for the winter months ranges from 
14.5° F.. at Florence and Crandon to 18.6= F.. at ^Menominee. 
The normal for the spring is approximately the same for the 
three stations, ranging from 38° to 40.7° F. The normal tem- 
perature for the summer ranges from 63.6 F. at Florence to 
64.9° F. at Crandon and 65.3° F. at I\renominee. The normal 
for the fall is 43.5° at Florence and 43.3° at Crandon. while 
at ^Menominee it is much higher, being 48.3". 



CLIMATE. 



J\ '>')» il antf mean mn.iimum and /ninhiiuin temperature at Florence, Cran- 
don. and Menominee. 



riorence. 



Mean 

a I lire. 
• 893-191)7. 



Cran- 
dou. 



Menominee. 



Mean of 
niavima. 
1893-1907. 



Mean 
Mean Of temper- I aiean 

^*"'°- I ^'eir/ TaU^e" 
1893-1907. iJ.^^5: ^y^, 

ling 1907. 



j 

Mean of Mean of 
maxima ' minima, 
3 years, 3 .vears, 
190(5-1908. 1906-1908. 



December. .., 


18.3 


25 


10 


16.7 


23.2 


31.8 


16.6 


.Tannary 


i:i.3 


23 


5 


11 1 


18 1 


28 8 


13 '' 




11.9 


23 


3 


15.7 


14.6 


28.6 


10 5 






Winter 


14.5 


1 


14.5 


18.6 







March 


24.0 


~ 35" 


14 


26.3 


28.2 


36.9 


19.0 


April 


39.0 


53 


29 


43.1 


39.7 


48.9 


.30.1 


May 


51.1 


66 


40 


5,r 


50.4 


57.9 


39.6 


Spring 


38.0 






40.7 


39.4 


















61 S 




48 


64 7 


61 7 


73 


52.5 
58.3 


July 


6"). 6 


80 


53 


66.8 


68.0 


77.7 


-Vug-ust 


63.3 


76 


51 


63.1 


66.8 


76.6 


56.7 


f^ummer 


63.6 




64.9 


65.3 














September 


56.5 


67 


44 


56.8 


59.6 


71.8 


53.2 


October 


'44.3 


55 


35 


45.3 


49.5 


57.1 


39. J 


November 


29.6 


37 


21 


27.8 


35.8 


42.9 


28.4 


-Vutumn 


43.5 




43.3 


48.3 














Annual 


39.9 







40.9 


43.0 















K) Jx'PJCOyXOh^^AXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



Niirinnl prn-iiiifttlioii (Hiil pre railing direction of winds at Fhrenrc, (Jrandon 

and Menominee. 





Normal precipitation. 


Direction of prevailing wind, 1908 




I'"loi-cnco. 


Crandoii. 

1.12 
1.40 
1.08 


Menom- 
inee. 


1 
Florence, j Crandon. 


Menom- 
inee. 




1.5t 
l.Ui 

1.10 


0.52 

.70 

1.05 


w. .«;w. 

XW. X. 
XW. X. 


SW 




sw. 




NW. 








3.80 


3.66 


2.33 












March 


2.00 
2.14 
3.89 


1.48 
1.48 
2.38 


1.8i 
1.73 
3.39 


NW. ! W. 
XW 


• SW. 




N. 


May 


NW. N. 


NE. 






Spriiitr 


8.33 


5.34 


6.96 








' 






4.15 

a. 80 

3.35 


2.62 
.3.15 
2.70 


3.03 
4.30 
2.68 


SW. s. 
NW. W. 

XW. ( W. 

i 


SW. 


July 


SW. 




NW. 






Summer 


11.36 


8.47 


10.67 


1 










September 

October 


3.61 

2.80 
2.05 


3.70 
2.05 
2 26 


3.27 
1.03 

1 IS 


NW. S. 
XW. s. 
XW. w. 


NW. 

SW. 








Fall 


8.52 


8.67 


6.08 












Annual 


32.80 


26.14 


26.04 













Ill summer the temperature of ]\[arinette County is practically 
tlie same as at Crandon, whieli is warmer than Florence, while 
in winter the temperature of ^Marinette County is the same as 
that of Florence, which is warmer than Crandon. The norrh 
half of Marinette County is 1 degree warmer for the year than 
either Crandon or Florence, and the southern half of Marinette 
(bounty is 1 degree warmer for the year than the northern half 
of the county. In other w^ords, Marinette County has a more 
equable temperature than either Florence Count.y to the north 
or Forest County to the west, due to the ameliorating intiuence 
of Green Bay and Lake JMichigan. 

The annual riiiiifjill of Marinette. County average'^ from 26 to 
33 inches for the major ])art of the area. The amount of precip- 
itation is fairly constant for the winter, and a portion of the 
fall and spring months, but varies considerably in the summer 
months. Exceptionally diy periods occur once in 50 years, dry 
periods once in 25 years, and moderately dry periods once in 



CLIMATE. 



11 



.0 years. The last exceptionally dn- period occurred in the 
^ears 1894 and 1896. 

The greatest rainfall occurs during the growing season, the 
able showing 19.06 inches for the period from April to Sep- 
ember, inclusive, at the Menominee station, against 6.98 inches 
'or the period from October to March, inclusive. At Florence 
here are 21.3 inches rainfall in the spring and summer months, 
md 11.5 inches during the fall and winter. 

The data of last and first killing frosts, in the accompanying 
;able indicate the period in which immunity from killing frost 
^an be expected to range from 105 days in the northern part ^t 
lie county to 140 days in the southern part near Green Bay. As 
ihown by the table, frosts are likely to be late in the spring but 
ire not generally earlier in the autumn than for the southern 
3art of the State. From the table it may be seen that one can 
not reasonably expect immunity from frost, for most parts of 
the county, before about the first part of June or after the mid- 
lie of September. 

Dated of killiny frostfi- at Florence, Crandon, and Menominee. 



Year 



IS95.. 
1896.. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 



Florence. 



La.^t in 
.spring-. 



Average. 



Ma.v 27 
May 20 
.Juno 8 
May 16 
May 25 
June 9 
June 9 
.Tune 5 
.Tune 12 
May 30 
May 26 
June 13 
May 28 
June 15 
June IS 
June 3 



First ill 
fall. 



Sept. 27 
Aug-. 19 
Sept. 17 
Sept. 10 
Sept. 13 
Sept. 8 
Oct. 4 
Sept. 12 
Sept. 6 
Auj?. 21 
Sept. 13 
Sept. 29 
Sept. 22 
Sept. 28 
Sept. 7 
Sept. 14 



Crandon. 



Menominee. 



Last in 
SI) ring-. 



First in 
fall. 



May 26 
Apr. 10 
June 8 



Sept. 30 
Sept. 2 



Last in 
sisring-. 



May 2S 
June 15 
May 18 
June 1 



Sept. 22 

Sept. 29 

Sept. 7 

Sept. 13 



First in 
fall. 



May 12 

May 21 

May 3 

May 16 

May 9 

M:iy 9 

May 27 

May 13 

May 10 

May 14 



Oct. 1 
Oct. 14 
Sept. 24 
Sept. 20 
Oct. 12 
Oct. 9 
Sept. 30 
Sept. 29 
Sept. 27 
Oct. 2 



12 REC0NN0I88ANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

Tlie following table shows the coiiiparativ*! temperatures and 
)';i ill falls of Marinette County, southern Wisconsin, iioi-tliern 
Illinois, Towa, and the Lower Peninsula of ^Tiehigan: 



Mcitn, .sc'tsonal and (innual temperature and precijiifation. 





Winter. 


Spring. 


Summer. 


Fall. 


Annual. 




Pre- 
cip- 
ita- 
tion. 


Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 


Pre- 
cip- 
ita- 
tion. 

[nches 
6.84 
9.18 
9.89 
9.50 

7.65 


Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 


Pre- 
clp- 
ita- 
tion. 


Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 

°F. 
64.6 
67.6 

71.8 
71.5 

67.3 


Pre- 
cip- 
ita- 
tion. 

Inches 
7.75 
8.56 
7.64 

6.88 

7.54 


Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 


Pre- 

ci Im- 
ita- 
tion. 


Tem- 
pera- 
ture. 


Mai-inctte County .... 
Southern Wisconsin.. 

Northern Illinois 

Iowa 


Inches 
3.26 
4.66 
5.74 
3.33 

6.29 


15.7 
19.8 
25.0 
21.5 

21.6 


°F. 
39.5 
45.3 
48.0 
47.0 

42.7 


Inches 
10.16 
11.17 
11.07 
12.46 

8.49 


"F. 
45.1 
47.0 
51.4 
50.6 

48.5 


Inches 
28.01 
33.57 
34.34 
32.17 

30.31 


41.2 
44.9 
49.0 

47. S 


Michigan. Lower Pen- 









AGRICULTURE. 

The ])i iiH-ipal industry of Marinette County, as already stated, 
is lumbering and related manufacturing enterprises, with agri- 
culture second in importance. About two-thirds of the j:)opula- 
tion is in the cities and villages" and one-third on the farms. 
This condition is not unusual, but is characteristic of most of 
the counties in the northern half of Wisconsin, as well as of 
many counties of the southern half. 

The proportion of farm population to village and city popu- 
lation has remained approximately constant since 1875, the total 
])0])u]ation showing the rapid increase from 5,057 in 1875 to 
33,812 in ]9]0 already cited. The state census of 3905, however, 
shows a slightly greater increase in the rural population as com- 
pared with that of the city, and this trend will very probably 
continue in the future, as the lumber industry has already passed 
its greatest development, while agriculture is still in its for- 
mative stage. 

The total area of the county is 904,320 acres, of which only 
al)out 6.7 per cent in 1905 was under cultivation. The acreage 
of improved land in the county has about doubled for each ten 



AGRICULTURE. 



18 



yciir pi'riod from 1885 to lOOf), the cash value of farm lands also 
doubling for each similar period. A fair estimate of the per- 
centage of land in the county that Avill finally be improved is 
probably 70 to 80 per cent of the total area, and hence it is 
evident that there is ample room for the future development of 
agriculture in the county. The statistics for 1910 are also in- 
cluded in the table. 

Imjirored and unimproved acres in farms and rash raliie of fur m land, 
inrltiding buildings. 



Year. 


Improved. 


-^ . Value 
I'll'": iiicludins- 
proved. imildings. 


1885 


Ac7es. 

16,989 
29, 302 
60, 257 

79. 474 


Acren. 

34,050 
123,982 
104.141 

140,089 


Dollars. 
908,335 


1895 


2,177,875 


1905 


4,040.736 


1910 U. S. Census 


6,899,590 









In describing the agriculture of the county, therefore, we are 
concerne'd with possibilities of future development as well as 
with the status the industry has alreadj^ attained. At present 
the agriculture of the county is practically contined to the south 
central and southeastern parts of the county, on the Coloma 
fine sandy loam, ]\Iiami line sandy loam, and Dunkirk tine sand. 
Wliile there are farms scattered over the other types, there are 
few localities which are at all thickly settled or which present 
the appearance of an agricultural community. 

The present valuation and selling price of the farm lands in 
IMarinette County is determined largely by the character of the 
soil. Ill the older counties of the State, where the agricultural 
lands are almost all occupied, this factor wholly determines the 
valuation and selling price, but in the new counties other ele- 
ments, such as location and density of settlement, may enter into 
the generally accepted basis of valuations. 

The range in prices of farms per acre varies widely, as is 
usually the case in other northern counties. Farms on the 
lighter sandy soils in the thinly settled central and northern 
parts of the county will average between $5 to $15 an acre for 



14 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

uncleared hind and .$20 to $45 for cleared lands, including 
buildings. The prevailing prices of farms on the loain soils in 
the southeastern half of the county and also on the fine sandy 
soil between Peshtigo and IMarinette generall}' range between 
$15 and $25 an acre for unimproved land and from $50 to $90 
an acre for improved land. The average prices, though stated 
between wide ranges, are subject to a gradual change tending 
toward higher prices for each year, as is usually the case where 
unimproved lands are opening up to agricultural settlement. 

In the southeastern part of the county about Coleman, Pesh- 
tigo, and IMarinette, w'here settlements w^ere first made, from 
1870 to 1880 the staple crops were wheat, oats, corn, and pota- 
toes. Wheat was the principal money crop. Live stock was 
raised mainly for home consumption. Many of the earliest set- 
tlers depended upon game, mainly deer, for meat. An impor- 
tant market of the early settlers was the lumber camps. 

The acreage in wheat was very probably larger in 1875 than 
that of any other crop. In 1885 (see table) the acreage of wheat 
was second to that of oats. Since 1885, despite the much 
larger acreage of improved land, the acreage of wheat remains 
about stationary. On the other hand, the acreage of oats from 
1885 to 1905 has increased about five times, of corn ten times, 
of barley four times, of rye ten times, of potatoes three times, 
and of hay five times. The apple crop is increasing in import- 
ance, the yield in 1885 being 1,630 bushels, while in 1905 14,5G3 
bushels were reported. 

The crop statistics, compiled by the U. S. Census of 1910, arf 
also included and shows a notable increase in all crops excepting 
that of wheat. 



AGRICULTURE. 



15 



Acreoge and yield of more important cropx. 



Crop. 



Wheat 

Bailey 

Oats 

Rye 

Corn 

Buckwheat 

Potatoes 

Beans and peas, 

Root ciops 

Apples 

Sugar beets 

Hay 



1885. 



Acres. Bush 



1.491) 
114 

2,070 
lol 
112 
12 
754 
369 
246 



27.790 
2,088 

66,647 

2.549 

6,552 

324 

75,012 
6,674 

39,284 
1.630 



'5,115 



Acres. Bush 



706 

108 

5,072 

423 

818 

79 

1,499 

657 

59 



Acres. Bush 



'10.596 



1,556 

415 

11,407 

1.200 

1,171 

363 

2,153 

1,873 

238 



17,914 



21,164 
S»,210 

299, 100 

17,574 

34.101 

5,779 

253,484 
34,505 
21,245 
14,563 
'4,354 

'25,031 



1910.- 
U. S. census. 



Acres. BusJi. 



885 

1 , 409 

13,029 

2.478 

3,597 

430 
3.689 



23,690 



14.927 
32,019 

405,503 

43. 989 

94,913 

5.672 

439,958 



31,988 



'Tons. 

= Complete statistics of U. S. Census, 1910, for this and other tables not avail- 
able. 

The Miami fine sandy loa.m of the southeastern half of the 
county is especially favorable to apple culture. Such var- 
ieties as the Duchess, Hibernal, Patten Greening, Charlamoff, 
Longfield, and Wealthy are well adapted to the local soil and 
climatic conditions. 

The data relating to acreage and production of beans and 
peas mainly or entirely relate to field peas. Peas do exception- 
ally well on the new sandy loams and loam soils, the average 
yield in 1905 being over 18 bushels per acre. The bean is 
grown very little in Marinette County. It should be grown 
more extensively on the sanly soils as an important export crop. 

Sugar beets, arfe sold to the sugar factory at Menominee, 
Mich. \Vliile the usual yield per acre is not large, the sugar 
content of the beets is relatively high. 

The development of the live-stock and dairy industry has 
been as raj^id as the development of this industry in other north- 
ern Wisconsin counties. The value of cattle and calves sold from 
1885 to 1905 increased about six times, of hogs about three 
times. The number of sheep sold has increased considerably 
during the past few years. 



1 f; RECONNOIfiSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



yu n'>:'r an-l calue of lir;' H''}ok on. Ii ind and aold or cjnsiD/icd in Murinrtti 

Co II nil/. 





Horses and mules. 




Cattle and calves. 




Year. 


Number. 


Value. 


On hand. 


Sold or consumed. 




Number. 


Value. 


Number. 


Value. 


1885 

1895 :. 

1905 

lho 


1,011 
2,104 
5,168 
4.430 


Dollars. 

100,655 

89,378 

391,612 

462.437 


3,032 
5,019 
13,316 
15.678 


Dollars. 
69,301 

56,064 
208,335 
309.918 


346 

803 
3,109 


Dollar.'^. 

8,822 

8.969 

49,850 













Sheep. 


Hogs. 


Year. 


On hand. 


Sold or con- 
sumed. 


On hand. 


Sold or con- 
sumed. 




Num- 
ber. 


Value. 


Xum- i -. , 
ber. Value. 


Num- 
ber. 


Value. 


Num- 
ber. 


Value. 


1885 

1895 

1905 

1910 


956 
1,019 
1.461 
3,569 


Dollars. 
2.5.57 
1.671 
4,287 
12,152 


Dollars. 
.379 ' 1,169 
257 532 
570 1 1,674 
1 


1,458 
1,890 ■ 
4,806 
7,917 


Dollars. 

8,714 

9.090 

23, 2i)0 

50,804 


829 
J, 749 
4,202 


Dollars. 
1. •5,276 
17,281 
37,540 




I 


' 



Dairying has increased in importanee with oth.ei' phases of 
agriculture. Complete statistics are not available for 1885, 
but in the decade betAveen 1895 and 1905 the number of milcii 
coAvs more than doubled, the output of butter from the farms 
increased about three times, and the production of cheese from 
the factories increased about four times. In 1895 there "was 
one creamery and two clieese factories in the county. In 1905 
no creameries were report(Ml, but seven cheese factories were 
in ()|)ci';ition. 



AGRICULTURE. 



17 



Didri/ pnnlurts of Marinette County. 



Year. 


Milch 


cows. 


Milk. 


Butter. 


Number. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


189.') . . 


, Dollars. 




Dollars. 


97,383 
179,170 
434,992 



Dollarx. 
22,981 


1895 


2.977 
7,170 
8,335 


53,744 
178,663 






32,. 325 


11)03 


296,203 


43,897 


91,020 


1910 















"While the dairying industry has more than doubled during 
the last decade, its development has not been quite as rapid 
as that of grain and potato growing. One of the principal 
reasons for the relatively slow development of dairying is 
probably due to the low grade of the dairy stock. So far as 
known, there are no herds of pure-blooded stock of the gen- 
erally recognized dairy oi' general utility breeds in the county. 
Ther*e are, however, a few bulls of pure blood, mainly of the 
Guernsey breed, in the southern part of the county. "While 
many farmers keep a good number of cows, the yield of milk 
per cow is not large nor especially rich ; hence the best results 
from dairying are not obtainable. It is a well-known fact 
that it requires as much feed to keep a low-grade cow as it 
does to keep one of high grade. The yield of milk per cow 
ought to be increased at least twofold over the present yield 
to obtain the best results developed in other dairy sections of 
the State. And to obtain this result, better dairy stock should 
be developed as rapidlj'- as possible. 

A system of farming, with dairying "as a principal industry, 
Avill not only be profitable, but will develop conditions favor- 
;:,l)lc to the maintenance of the fertility of the soil. The gen- 
eral use of manure and fertilizers should be practiced in any 
selieme of permanent agriculture. Where the forage crop is 
not fed on the farm and the manure returned to the soil, the 
continuous production of grain and hay crops brings about con- 
ditions in the soil that result in diminished yields. The selling 
of hay or other forage crops should not be practiced, unless pur- 



18 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

chases -.wv nuidc fi-oiii siidi sales of concentrated feeds with wliich 
to balance the feeding ration. The growing of alfalfa on all 
soils on which it Avill sncceed should be extended, and also 
the groAving of more clover and other legumes, in order to 
increase the supply of organic matter in the soils and to add 
the nitrogen which such plants gather from the air. 

A chemical examination of much of the surface soil (0 to 8 
inches) of the important types has been made, showing, as 
usual, a high content of potassium and a variable and, in 
some cases, quite a low content of phosphorus and nitrogen. 
Only a general statement in regard to the chemical composi- 
tion and its relation to the fertility of the soil and the appli- 
cation of particular fertilizers can be submitted at this time. 

Chemical analyses of samples representative of the soils of the 
area have been made by Prof. A. R. Whitson, of the College of 
Agriculture, at Madison, Wis., the results of which are given 
in the following table: 



Chemical Analyses of soils of Marinette Co ant i/. 



Soil type. 



No. 



Coloma loam , 


92 A 


Do 


102A 


Superior fine sandy loam 


93A 


Coloma fine sandy loam 


94 A 


Plainfield sand 


199 A 


Coloma fine sand 


200A 


Miami fine sandy loam, 
iiglit phase 


201A 


Miami fine sandy loam.. 


202A 


Dunl<irlv fine sand 


203A 



Total 
VH)K 


Total 


Total 
N. 


0.15 


2.52 


0.131 


.06 


2.22 


.130 


.05 


2.41 


.062 


.13 


2.60 


.089 


.07 


1.92 


.067 


.09 


2.27 


.077 


.08 


2.61". 


.107 


.12 


2.. 59 


.182 


.05 


2.12 


.1.30 



CO" 



0.073 
.136 
.017 
.069 
.034 
.042 

.046 
.08-- 
.049 



Or- 
ganic 
mat- 
ter. 


Lime 
re- 

((11 ire 

ment 
per 

acre. 


2.83 


5,000 


3.82 


5,000 


1.17 


2,000 


1.45 


2,000 


1.08 


5.000 


1.6G 


5,000 


1.98 


2,000 


3.42 


500 


3.06 


5,000 



Litmus test. 



Very acid. 
Do. 

Slifrhtlyacid. 
Acid. 

Do. 

Do. 

Vcr.v acid. 
.\ot acid. 
Slightly acid. 



These analyses show a fairly high content of potassium in all 
the soils. 

The chemical analyses of these soils is essentially like that of 
other soils of "Wisconsin or the Northwest. 



AGRICULTURE. 19 

The supply of nitrogen is fairly good for the heavier loam 
soils, but quite low in the lighter sandy soils. The supply of 
nitrogen can be maintained and increased by growing clover, 
alfalfa and other legume crops. An especially good crop for 
nitrogen on the light sandy soils, which are very low in both 
nitrogen and organic material, is mammoth clover. 

The supply of phosphorus is fairly good in the heavier loams, 
but quite low in the sandy soils. The analyses show that the 
phosphorus in the sandy soils is low, and phosphatic fertilizers on 
these soils are desirable, especially for crops other than the small 
grains. Application of barnyard manure, where available, would 
help these soils, l)ut it will probably be found desirable to apply 
ground rock phosphate, at the rate of about 1,000 pounds per 
acre to begin with, and lighter applications of 250 pounds per 
acre thereafter. 

Nearly all the soils, of the area would be benefited by lime. 
The first requisite is to make applications of ground limestone 
at the rate of 1 to 2 tons per acre. The cost of this would be 
about $3 per ton, depending on freightage, and the application 
of these amounts will last for some time, four or five years at 
least. Where, ground limestone is not available, slaked lime 
can be used, but in smaller quantity. Clover often fails to get 
a start on light sandy soil. It is usually advisable therefore to 
add ground limestone when the field is ready for planting to 
oats or rye with the clover. 

Before going to the expense of applying lime to correct acidity 
of the soils, or phosphate as fertilizer, it is suggested that the 
local agricultural school at Marinette or the State experiment 
station at Madison be consulted. 

That system of agriculture is best which allows a rational and 
comprehensive adaptation of soils to crops under the climatic con- 
ditions of the area. While it is not intended to outline such a 
comprehensive system under the present undeveloped condi- 
tions of agriculture, certain suggestions are offered which may 
be of value to prospective settlers, as well as to those already 
located on the farms. 

The loam soil provisionally named the IMiami fine sandy loam 
and Ooloma loam, and locally referred to as "clay" soil, are 
adapted to all those crops usually grown in the northern States 



20 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

under a system of general farming. Proper varieties of corn 
should be selected which will ripen within the average period of 
immunity from frost. The Early Yellow Dent (Wisconsin No. 8), 
and (J olden Glow (Wisconsin No. 12) should be selected. Com- 
mon flint is probably best for the wet lands on account of ma- 
turing earlier. A¥liile wheat can be grown and fair yields pro- 
duced, the crop tends to decline rapidly in yield, and hence it 
is not grown extensively. Buckwheat should be sown not later 
than June. The apple, when established varieties are selected 
and properly cared for, can be grown successfully for home 
consumption. 

The lighter loam soils, the Coloma loam and the small areas 
of Superior fine sandy loam, are probably not well adapted to 
wheat and barley, but to most other grains and root crops suit- 
able to the climate. Peas, with yields of 18 bushels per acre, 
are grown on the (!ok)ma fine sandy loam. On these types from 
100 to 150 bushels of potatoes per acre are commonly secured, 
and oats, rye, and corn give good average yields. The addition 
of lime to correct acidity of the soil, and also phosphorous as a 
fertilizer in some cases would be beneficial. 

The sandy soils, the Plainfield sand (the jack pine plain 
type), the Coloma fine sand (the hilly pine-land type), and 
the Dunkirk fine sand (the low sand-plain type), are adapted to 
more specialized crops. Barley and wheat should ordinarily not 
be attempted. These light sandy soils should be worked with 
specinl care in order to maintain and increase their fertility. An 
ideal rotation^ of crops for the sandy soil is first year oats or rye, 
seeding with cdover ; clover two years ; then a cultivated crop of 
potatoes, corn, or soy beans. Sufficient dairy and other stock 
should be raised to maintain the upkeep of the farms. 

The light sandy soils arc typical truck soils, but under the 
present conditions of development of the region, general farming 
witli selected grains and root crops and the development of the 
dairying industry is probably the best system to adopt. Dairy- 
ing, in fact, should be developed on all the soil, not only for the 
money profit to be derived but also as an importiint means in 



1 For management of "Sand soils," see Bulletin 204, Wis. Exp. Sta., 
Madison, Wis. 



SOILS. ^ 21 

conjunction with proper crop rotation and use of commercial 
fertilizers in developing a system of permanent agriculture. 

SOILS. 

The soils of Marinette County are predominantly sandy, rang- 
ing from light sand to a moderately heavy loam. The upland 
soils are very commonly grayish or brownish at the surface, and 
are generally well drained throughout. 

The soils of the county are formed mainly from glacial and 
alluvial deposits overlying granite, sandstone, and limestone. 
The glacial deposits are verj^ largely composed of the ground-up 
material of the underlying bed rock, and hence these soils in 
the area of the limestone are very largely of limestone debris, 
and in the areas of sandstone and granite are largely of sand-' 
stone and granitic material, respectively. On the other hand, 
the soils of the alluvial deposits consist largely of sand and 
gravel without regard to the underlying rock, and are of very 
similar composition over the entire area. 

The granite and other crystalline rock of the northwestern 
pant of the county are the oldest formations and are of pre-Cam- 
brian age. The first formation next overlying the crj^stalline 
rock is the Potsdam sandstone, of Middle Cambrian age, whose 
area of outcrop lies in a belt or zone from 6 to 10 miles wide 
extending northeast and southwest and reaching in a general 
way from the vicinity of Wausaukee to Lake Nocque Bay. The 
next formation above the Potsdam sandston(3 is the Lower Mag- 
ncsian limestone, forming a zone 5 to 6 miles wide, lying south- 
east of the vicinity of Beaver and Left Foot Lake. The next 
overlying formation is the St. Peter sandstone, extending in a 
narrow belt about one-fourth to 1 mile wide along the east mar- 
gin of the Lower Magnesian. The next formation, the upper 
most in the county, is the Trenton limestone, forming a zone 
from 10 to 15 miles wide in the southeast part of the county, ex- 
tending from the vicinity west of Portertield to Marinette and 
tlie Green Bay shore. Overlying the bed-rock formation are 
the surface deposits of glacial drift and the alluvial sands and 
gravel. 

Ill the northern and northwestern part of the county are belts 
of Icnniiml moraine, characterized bv billowv drift hills and 



22 L'ECONNOISSANCE 8<HL ^VRYEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

s\vaini)R. These belts were I'oi'iued at the margin of the iee sheets 
iu their retreat across the county, and trend in a northeast-south- 
west direction. The soils of the terminal moraines generally 
contain numerous l)owlders, these being commonly granite. 

A common feature of the southeastern one-third of the county 
are hogback ridges of gravel or sand ''eskers, " which were 
formed 1)y streams flowing in ice tunnels beneath the glaciers. 
]\rost of these eskers run in a northeast-southwest direction and 
usually extend along or through swamps. 

The level plains of sandy soil, generally containing more or 
less gravel in the subsoil, are stratified deposits and were formed 
in water, Avhich may or may not have been connected with the 
ice sheets. The sand plains are quite variable in area and have 
their greatest length in a northeast-southwest direction. 

In the northwestern part of the county in the vicinity north 
and south of Dunbar are small patches of red calcareous clay 
evidently old lacustrine deposits like those occurring along the 
shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan and in the Fox 
River Valley. 

In this connection may be mentioned the old shore line oE 
Green Bay which extends acrovss the southeastern part of t!io 
county and forms the approximate border of the level tract 
of sand and peat soil lying betAveen Peshtigo and Marinette. 
This abandoned shore line, 40 feet above the present level of 
Green Bay and Lake Michigan, was the border of the lake 
at the Algonquin stage of the Great Lakes. This shore line 
may be seen near "Wilcox Station, also about 2 miles Avest of 
Peshtigo, and about 2 miles south of Bagley Junction, whence 
it turns to the northeast passing through the county 3 or i 
miles north of IMarinette and Menominee. It marks a much 
later stage in the history of the Great Lakes than the one 
during which the red calcareous clays about Dunbar were 
deposited. 

Considering the geological derivation and process of forma- 
tion of the various soils, all the principal soils are formed 
either by weathering of glacial till overlying the bed-rock 
formation, or by weathering of water dcfxisited sands in old 
sti-cain or old lake bottoms. The IMiaini fine sandy loam is 
derived from glacial till over the Trenton limestone and tho 



SOILS. V 23 

subsoil consists almost wholly of liiiiestoue debris, varying 
from fine powder to large fragments and bowlders, the bed 
rock being generally from 5 to 20 feet below the surface. 

A light phase of the Miami tine sand}^ loam is derived from 
glacial till overlying Lower Magnesian limestone, St. Peter 
sandstone, and the Potsdam sandstone, the subsoil consisting 
mainly of limestone debris and sand. The Coloma loam is 
derived from glacial deposits overlying the crystalline forma- 
tions, and consists wholly of debris of granitic rocks. The 
Coloma fine sandy loam and the Coloma fine sand are derived 
from glacial material within the general area of the sandstone 
and granitic formations, and are largely of terminal moraine 
deposits. The Superior fine sandy loam is derived from 
alluvial sand associated with and overlying red lacustrine clay. 

The Plainfield sand is derived from the weathering of alluvial 
sand and gravel overlying various rock formations. The 
Dunkirk fine sand is derived from the weathering of delta or 
estuarine sands deposited in former Lake Algonquin, wdiose 
shore lines are about 40 feet above the present level of Green 
Bay. 

Of the unclassified soils Peat consists of decomposed humus 
and marsh vegetation; Muck consists of a mixture of humus 
wdth sand and clay; and Rock outcrop consists of areas of 
abundant rock exposures, mainly of granitic character, in the 
northern parts of the county. 

"With relation to the native forest growth developed on the 
various soils, the nature of which was used as a general index 
of the character of the soil, the Miami fine sandy loam and the 
Coloma loam are characterized by relatively dense growths 
of hardwoods and hemlock, with large w^hite pine in local 
areas. The Coloma fine sandy loam and the Superior fine 
sandy loam support a mixture of hardw-oods and pine, the 
pine predominating. The Coloma fine sand is characterized 
by a growth of pine including white, Norway, and some jack 
pine. The Plainfield sand is characterized typically by a 
growth of jack })ine and some Norway ])iiie. The Dunkirk fine 
sand, ]-ela1iv('ly low sandy land, is characterized by a rather 
dc?is(! growth of white and yellow ])oplar. soft maple, scrub oak. 



24 REC0NN0I8SANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



white bireli, jack pine, some Norway pine, and in low wet places 
mixed tamarack and cedar. 

Below^ is given a table stating the actual and percentage 
area oC the various soils of the connty as shown on tlic accom- 
panying soil map. 

^[renft of tUfferotI xoila. 



Soil. 


Acres. 


Per cent 


Soil. 


Acres. 


Per cent 


Coloma fine sand 


1911,872 
163,008 
43,776 
114,048 
151,488 
120.960 


22.1 
18.0 

f u. 

16.8 
13.4 


Coloma loam 


58, 176 
29,952 
21,312 

1,728 


6.4 


Coloma fine sand.v 
loam 


Dunliirlv fine sand 

Peat 

Superior fine sandy 
loam 


3.3 


Miami fine sandy loam . 
Liffht phase 


2.4 




.2 


Plain field sand 


Total 








Mucl< 


904.320 











MIAMI FINE SANDY LOAM. 

The Miami fine sandy loam consists of a gray sandy to silty 
loam containing some small stone to a depth of 8 or 10 inches, 
underlain with silty loam containing somewhat larger rock frag- 
ments and extending to a depth of 24 to 30 inches. Below 
24 to 30 inches stones and bowlders are generally abundant. 
The bed rock of limestone is struck at depths gf 3 to 15 feet 
of the surface over large portions of the area. The loose 
stone is almost whollj^ of limestone material from the under- 
lying formation. Stone piles are a characteristic feature OA^er 
much of the cultivated parts of this type. 

The soil type occurs mainly in the town of Grover and in 
the southern part of Porterfield. It is derived from the weath- 
ering of glacial drifts over limestone, and like most soils of 
glacial origin is somewhat variable in composition from place to 
place. 

The surface varies from, gently sloping and undulating to 
nearly level. The type quite generally occupies upland areas 
and slopes above the stream beds and swampy tracts. The 
slopes are so gentle that such objectionable features as rapid 
soil erosion and gullying arc not likely 1o ])e developed. They 
nre nowhoi-o too sloop for cullivalit^n. ()cc'asi<^ii;illy fields ot' 



MIAMI FINE SANDY LOAM. ., 25 

this soil type are so level that the use of tile drainage would 
be beneficial. .In general, however, the loose texture of the 
soil, as well as the undulating surface, gives such good natural 
drainage that underdrainage is unnecessary. A typical farm 
on this soil is shown in Plate I. 

This soil was originally heavily timbered with hard woods and 
white pine. The pine has been cut for years, but in many places 
the hardwoods still remain. The latter consist mainly of sugar 
maple, birch, and beech, with a variable amount of hemlock, oak, 
elm, ash, basswood and poplar. Three of the earliest agricultural 
settlements in the county were established upon this type of soil 
in the town of Grover. They were locally known as the Lower, 
Middle, and Upper Sugar Bushes, on account of the abundant 
^■owth of sugar maples in the settlements. 

The forest growth of white pine and hard woods was not 
uniformly distributed over this soil. Over consideral)le areas 
dense hardwood forests predominated, but in some places, usually 
in areas of small extent, the white pine grew in great abundance 
even to the exclusion of the hard woods. "Where the pine greatly 
predominated the surface soil generally contains more sand 
than elsewhere, but the subsoil conditions are imuch the same 
as in areas covered with hard woods. 

The groundwater level in this soil is generally from 10 to 80 
feet below the surface. Sufficient water for domestic purposes, 
therefore, can be obtained generally in the drift overlying the 
limestone or a few feet in the limestone. Occasionally, however, 
wells are drilled from 50 ito 100 feet into the limestone before 
a sufficient supply can be obtained. Much of the soil is under- 
lain by a clayey subsoil which tends to hold the moisture suf- 
ficiently near the surface to be available for the growing of 
crops. 

The Miami fine sandy loam is the most fertile soil in the coun- 
ty, and all the staple farm crops are successfully grown upon it. 
Oats is the principal grain crop, the acreage greatly exceeding 
that of all other grains combined. The yield varies from 25 to 40 
bushels per acre, the average yield being about 30 bushels. Corn 
is Ihe next inost impoi'tant crop, the yield per aero being about 
tli(^, same as tli.il of oats. In growing corn on this soil, as well 
as on oilier soils in ilKNcountv, the average length of IIk^ pci-iod 



2(; ]^FA!0^'KO^HSANCE H01L SURVEY OP MARINETTE GO. 

oi iiiimnnily from i'rost should be taken iuto consideration, and 
only such varieties selected as will rij^en within this period. The 
Early Yellow Dent (Wis. No. 8) and Golden Glow (Wis. No. 12) 
as well as flint corn, will ripen within the average period of free- 
dom fi'om frost. Wheat and barley are grown to a slight extent, 
tli(^ usual yield of wlical being 1") bushels and of barlej^ about 20 
])uslieis i)er aci'e. Some rye is grown, the average yield being 
about 16 bushels per acre. The yield of potatoes ranges from 
Vl'y to inO bushels. Pease do exceptionally well, the yield being 
15 to 20 bushels per .acre. Apples and the various kinds of ber- 
ries can lie readily grown. Sugar beets are successfully grown 
on many farms. 

This loamy soil is especially well adapted to apples. The 
climatic conditions, due to the moderating influence of Green 
Bay and Lake ^lichigau, as well as the character of the soil, 
with its high content of limestone material, are very favorable 
to their culture. ]\[ost of the apples grown in the county are 
on this soil type. By properly spraying and otherwise caring 
for the trees, theie are good prospects for the successful raising 
of such varieties of apples as the Dutchess, Hibernal, Patten 
Greening, Charlamoff. Lougfield, aiul Wealthy for the home as 
well as for the market. 

Dairying is impoi-taut on this soil, although only a relatively 
small number of farmers hav(> silos. The principal feed of 
cows is mixed hay. Hay is an important crop, averaging about 
1 and one half tons per acre. Glover is grown to some extent, 
but not extensively. ]\lillet and some small grains and corn 
are occasionally gi-own for foiage. The soil is well adapted 
to dairying and this industry should lie developed. Alfalfa 
has been successfully grown on this soil, and it should be more 
widely raised. 

Because of its adajitation to all tlie ordinaiy crops and be- 
cause of its location this type constitutes the highest priced 
land in the county, the prices usually ranging from $50 to $90 
an acre. 

Lighl pliasr. — There is a light ])hase of the ^liami fine sandy 
loam which is of extensive oeeui ranco. It is found in the south- 
eastern half of the county. The main area, lies in a belt trend- 
ing northeast-southwest througli the town of Pound, eastern 



MIAMI FINE RA^'DY LOAM. ' 27 

Beaver Lake, and northern Porterfield. Isolated areas lie far- 
ther west in the western half of Beaver and in AVansaukee. The 
surface soil consists of a grayish medium to fine sandy loam, 
with depth of 6 to 10 inches, resting usually on a brownish fine 
sandy loam, which extends to a depth of 24 to 36 inches. The 
character of the subsoil is somewhat variable, ranging from 
fine sandy loam to a sandy clay m'xed Avith some stones. Below 
24 to 36 inches there is generally a mixture of sand, gravel, and 
bowlders. This phase of the Miami fine sandy loam contains 
more sand and less stone than the other phase of this soil. 
Usually the more clayey phases of the soil are the most stony. 

The surface is usually very gently sloping, though in places 
it is undulating to hilly. The more undulating areas are in 
the vicinity south of the village of Wausaukee and in the west- 
em part of the town of Beaver. Even in the most uneven areas, 
however, the slopes are not i too steep for cultivation. Over most 
of the areas in the towns of Pound and eastern Beaver Lake the 
surface rises gently from 10 to 40 feet above the adjacent low 
tracts and swampy areas along the stream beds. 

The soil has its origin in the weathering of glacial drift over 
a sandy limestone and sandstone. Being derived from glacial 
drift, it is somewhat heterogeneous in character and the texture 
and composition of the subsoil lacks uniformity. The lower 
Magnesian limestone formation which underlies the main area 
of this soil contains considerable sand, and the weathering of 
the glacial debris worked up from this formation has resulted 
in a soil consisting of sand and limestone material varying in 
fineness from flour and small fragments up to large bowlders 
of lime rock. Mixed with the local limestone are a few bowlders 
of crystalline rock derived from more distant sources. Along 
the streams, especially the larger ones, such as Beaver Creek, 
Little Peshtigo River, and Peshtigo River, these are sandy 
tracts due to the action of these streams. In the areas of this soil 
are some gravel and sand ridges, locally known as "hogbacks," 
which owe their origin to glacial streams flowing in tunnels be- 
neath the glacial ice sheets. IMost of the important sandy 
tracts along the streams and the sand and gravel ridges of 
siibglacial oi'igin are shown on the soil iiia]>. 

Pr()1)ably al)out (me-tliird of this light phase of the type is 



28 RECOm^OIBSANVE 80lL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



under cultivation. Originally it was covered with dense hard 
wood and white-i)ine forests. In some areas the pine greatly 
predominated, in others the hardwoods. The i)rineipal hard- 
woods are beech, maple, and l)irch, with a variable ninonnt of 
hemlock, oak, elm, and basswood. 

The level of ground water is quite generally from 10 to 40 
feet below the surface. Abundant water for all domestic pur- 
poses can usually be obtained from the surface formation over- 
lying the bed rock. In some places the wells penetrate the 
underlying formation of limestone. 

About the same crops are grown oji this light pliase as on other 
parts of the Miami fine sandy loam. Oats Constitute the principal 
grain crop with wheat next in importance. Potatoes are also an 
im]K)rtant crop. The yield of oats i)er acre varies from 30 to 40 
busliels and ])ota1()es from 125 to 195 bushels per acre. Barley is 
grown to some extent, yielding between 20 and 30 bushels per 
acre. Peas do exceptionally well, yields of 25 to 35 bushels per 
acre being often reported. Hay is a good crop, mixed clover and 
timothy usually yielding 2 to 3 tons per acre. 

Dairying and stock raising are not as important as they should 
be. While there are-two or three cheese factories within the area 
of this soil, the average amount of milk obtained from the cows 
is small, as compared with average conditions over the State. 
'r\\v breed ©f milch cows should be improved and more atten- 
tion paid to care and feed of the herds. 

Tlie farni values usually vary between $50 and $85 an acre 
foi- improved land and about $15 to $20 for unimproved land. 

Tiie following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analyses of the soil and subsoil of the Miami fine sandy loam: 
^f^•rhani(•(tl (inali/nin of Mitimi ftie i^andy loam. 



Numhor. 


De- 
sci'ip- 
t ion. 


l''ine 
triavpl. 


Coarse 
saiul . 


Mo- 
dill 111 
saiiil. 


I'ino 
s;iM(i. 


Very 
tine 
sand. 


Silt. 


Claj-. 


22753 22755 


Soil 

Siilisoil. 


Pvr d . 
0.9 

1.7 


P,rrt. 
5.9 

7.0 


Perct. 
9.4 

S.4 


Per ct. 
24.0 

24.5 


Perct. 
18.5 

19.5 


Per ct . 
33.1 

27.5 


Per cl . 

- 4 


227.54.22750,22759 


11.1 


Liyhl pluisc: 


















2274.5.22747,22751 


Soil 


0.7 


G.2 


12.5 


29.4 


14.8 


29.9 


(•..:! 


22740,22748,227.52 


Subsoil. 


1..T 


7.:i 


i:(.:! 


28.7 


10. 5 


22.7 


10.2 



COLOMA FINE SAND. < 29 



COLOMA FINE SAND. 



The Coloina fine sand, to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, consists 
of yellowish-brown fine sand. The subsoil, to 36 inches, is a 
yellow fine sand, which becomes slightly coarser in the lower 
depths. In the lower subsoil rock fragments and bowlders are 
sometimes found, and to same extent these are scattered over 
the surface. This type owes its origin to the last ice sheet and 
is largely cleared from terminal moraine. Jn some places it 
does not differ materially from the Plainfield sand, _ except in 
topography, which in the case of the fine sand is rolling to 
moderately hilly. Natural drainage is good ; in fact there is 
more likelihood of excessive drainage than of lack of drainage. 

The fine sand is preeminently the pine soil of the area", it 
having been originally covered with a heavy growth of white 
pine, with some Norway. At present, the timber growth con^ 
sists largely of scattered white pine, considerable Norway pine, 
and in some local areas jack pine and small oak. Like the Col- 
moa fine sandy laani, the fine sand occurs in northeast-south- 
west belts, with alternating areas of Plainfield sand, the latter 
mainly representing an older soil covering of the region on 
which the fine sand was deposited by thelatest ice sheets. 

Also like the Plainfield sand and Coloina fine sandy loam, the 
Coloma fine sand is in a practically undeveloped state. Nearly 
all these types, together with the Coloma loam, Superior fine 
sandy loam, Muck, and Peat, are in their virgin state, except 
that the timber is largely removed. On the surface of much of 
the upland areas is found a layer from one-half inch to 2 
inches in thickness, of dark or black material, representing 
accumulations of organic material. 

The Coloma fine sand, like the Plainfield sand, is probably 
best adapted to a system of general farming restricted to 
certain grain crops and to dairying. It is a typical truck soil, 
but under the present condition of agricultural development and 
settlement of the region, location of markets, etc., it can not 
be utilized to advantage for the growing of truck. It is a 
soil which needs "body" added to it in the shape of manure 
and green crops plowed under. Early maturing crops, such 
as green corn, peas for canning, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., 



30 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

shoiikl do Nvi'll on this type. At present it gives moderate 
yields of excellent potatoes, and fair yields of lye, mixed 
hay, oats, and corn. 

By proper management the farms on this soil can be made to 
yield good returns, many thrifty farms having already been 
developed upon it. Legume crops, to add nitrogen to the soil, 
should lie included in the crop rotation. Following clover, good 
crops of peas and beans can probably be grown. 

Average yield on the Coloma line sand are about as fol- 
lows: Corn, 20 to 35 bushels; oats, 25 to 35 bushels; peas, 12 
to 18 bushels; potatoes, 100 to 150 bushels; and rye, 12 to 18 
bushels. Practically no barley or wheat is grown. 

Unimproved or wild land is held at about the same price 
as the Plainfield sand, viz., $5 to $20 an acre. Improved farms 
are sold at $30 to $50 an acre. 

The following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type. 

Mechaniral analysu of Coloma fine sand. 



Number. 


Descrip- 
tion. 


Fine 
gravel. 

Per ct. 
0.1 

1 


Coarse 
sand. 


Medium 
sand. 


Fine 
sand. 


V^ery 

fine 

sand. 


Silt. 


Clay. 


22,7aS, 22737 

22,734, 22738 


Soil 

Subsoil... 


Per ct. 
5.5 
4.6 


Per cent. 
14.6 
13.6 


Per ct. 
35.4 
41.9 


Per ct. 
23.4 

29.9 


Per ct. 
15.2 
7.1 


Per ct. 
5.2 

2.4 



COLOMA FINE SANDY LOAM. 

The Coloma fine sandy loam has a top soil, ]0 to 12 inches 
deep, of yellowish-brown, smooth, mellow, fine, to medium 
sandy loam. The subsoil to a depth of about 24 inches is a light- 
colored sandy loam, while from 24 to 36 inches is found a light 
yellow medium sand. The type is by no means uniform, be- 
ing of glacial origin, and varies from neary pure sand to a 
heavy sandy loam. The major portion, however, is as described 
above. 

The Coloma fine sandy loam is a terminal morainic type, 
and has a rolling to hilly topography. It is naturally well 
drained, but is rarely too hilly to be easily cultivated. Stones 
and bowlders are more or less plentiful, but seldom occur in 



GOLOMA FINE SANDY LOAM. 



31 



such quantities as to interfere witli cultivation. This soil, like 
most of the inij^ortant types in Marinette County, lies in north- 
easterly-southwesterly belts, that being the general distribution 
of the formations left by the last sheet of ice. 

The timber growth is mixed pine and hardwood, being largely 
white and Norway pine, white birch and red oak. Hemlock, 
basswood, maple, and elm do not thrive as they do on the 
heavier Miami fine sandj^ loam and the Coloma loam. 

Very little of the Coloma line sandy loam is under cultivation, 
as is true of all the types in Marinette County, with the except- 
ion of the Miami fine sandy loam and the Dunkirk fine sand. 
The home of a new settler on this type is shown in Plate II. 
However the few farmere located on the type are well satisfied 
with it and report fair yields, as follows : Oats,20 to 40 
bushels; potatoes, 100 to 200 bushels; pease, 15 to 20 bushels; 
and hay, 1 ton to l^/o tons. This soil, like practically all the 
other sandy soils in the county, is low in org'anic matter, and af- 
ter the first few years of cultivation should be liberally manured. 
Potatoes are the crop probably best suited to this type, and rye, 
buckwheat, and bush fruits should be profitable crops. The 
incorporation of organic matter should not be neglected, as is 
so often the case in newly settled districts, because of the 
scarcity of stock, ('rops of rye, vetch, and clover, plowed un- 
der, preferably in the fall, would greatly benefit and build up 
such soils. One or more legumes should be included in the ro- 
tation, and all manure carefully saved and used. By judicious 
management the soil can be made to increase instead of decrease 
in productiveness and value. At present the Coloma fine sandy 
loam can be bought for $10 to $20 an acre in an uncleared 
state. The improved lands sell from $40 to $60 an acre. 

The following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type : 

Mechanical analyses of Coloma fine sandy loam. 



Number. 


Descrip- 
tion. 


Fine 
gravel. 


Coarse 
sand. . 


1 


Very 
fine 
sand. 


Silt. 


Clay. 


22741,22749 


Soil 

Subsoil. 


Per ct. 
0.6 
1.4 


Per ct. 
6.5 

r.6 


Per ct. 

10.8 
8.8 


Per ct. 

20.4 
17.6 


Per ct. 
20.6 
24.0 


Per ct. 
34.0 
32.9 


Perct. 
6 8 


22743,22750 


7.2 



32 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 



PLAINFIELD SAND; 

The Plainfield sand to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, consists of 
yellow medium to coarse sand, sometimes slightly loamy. From 
8 to 36 inches the material is a yellow medium to coarse sand, 
growing lighten* in color and coarser in texture with depth. 
Some pebbles and fine gravel are found in the lower subsoil. 

As a whole, the soil is free from stones and bowlders, al- 
though outcrops of rock are sometimes found within the general 
soil area, and also an occasional erratic or glacial bowlder. The 
material composing this type was deposited by streams, and 
probably antedates the soils in the area which were formed as 
a result of the latest glacial action. 

The soil is locally known as "sandj" land," "jack-pine land," 
"sand plains," etc. Tlie typical timber growth consists of jack 
pine and scrub oak, with occasionally some Norway and a very 
few white pines. The surface of the ground is usualh^ covered 
with l)rako, sweet fern, blueberry bushes, and wild oat grass. 
Jack pine is characteristic of the type. The jack pine occurs 
sometimes on other soils, but only to a limited extent, the med- 
ium to coarse sand being its natural habitat. 

Tlie topography is level to gently rolling, being usually nearly 
level, as its alluvial origin would indicate (PI. TIT, fig. 1). In 
some localities, however, as in the area southeast of High Falls, 
Avind formed dunes occur in such numbers as to give the type 
a rolling surface. These dunes are often of slightly finer tex- 
ture than the soil of more level areas, consisting of clean, loose 
sand, and are considered less valuable than the main type. 
Other and larger sand hills occur less frequently, being eskers, 
or deposits formed by glacial water under ice. 

The Plainfield sand is an extensive type, covering an area 
of 151,488 acres, or 3 6.8 per cent of the county. Although the 
siu-face is level to undulating, the porous character of tlio soil 
and llie (lei)tli and coarseness of the subsoil give good iiatiii'al 
drainage. The level character of the land and the compar- 
ative ease of clearing often impress newcomers, especially those 
from the prairie States, so favorably that they purchase farms 
on this type in preference to those supporting hardwood, al- 
though the prices may be nearly the same. Satisfactory yields 



Wisconsin Survey. 



Bulletin XXIV, 1'latk II [. 




Fig. 1. TYPICAL VIEW OP PLAINFIELD SAND, UNDEVELOPED, JACK 
PINE PLAINS. SBC. 4, T. 36, R. 20 E. 




Pig. 2. VIEW OF FARM DEVELOPED ON THE PLAINFIELD SAND. 
SEC. 5, T. 34, R. 20 E. 




Fig. 1. VIEW OF COLOMA LOAM SHOWING TYPICAL DENSE 
HARDWOOD FOREST NEAR GOODMAN. 




PIG. 2. VIEW OF NEWLY CLEARED FIELD ON COLOMA LO IM AT 

GOODMAN. 



PLAIM-IELD 8AXD. ;J3 

can be produced on the Plainfield sand only with heavy appli- 
cations of manure. Green manures, especially legumes, are 
highly beneficial and should be more generally used. A com- 
mon mistake is to grow several crops of oats or other grains 
upon newly cleared land, thus reducing the productiveness to 
a low stage, before a system of building up the .soil by grow- 
ing clover and other legumes is begun. By proper farm manage- 
ment good stands of clover can be produced. Clover can be 
followed by a money crop which will do well. The bean crop, 
though rarely grown on this soil in ^Marinette County, is well 
adapted to sandy soils of this chai'acter and could be grown 
with profit. 

While a good living can be obtained by farmers on this soil, 
it should be emphasized that the type is not especially pro- 
ductive and that care should l)e taken at the outset not only to 
maintain the original productiveness of the land Imt to prac- 
tice some system of farming that will tend to increase this pro- 
ductiveness from year to year. That prosperous farms can be de- 
veloped on the Plainfield sand, when rightly managed, is shown 
by the presence of some thrifty farms in a number of places. 
(PI III, fig. 2.) At the same time there are some abandone.l 
farms on the type which may be expected with poor manage- 
ment. 

The type seems best adapted, when operated along general 
lines, to potatoes, rye, ancl clover. Fair crops of potatoes are 
readily grown, the tubers being of excellent quality. ]More 
satisfactory yields of buckwheat and rye are secured under the 
prevailing farm management than of oats or corn. The ty])e 
is entirely too light for either wheat or barley or sugar beets, 
although Mdiat few beets are grown on the light soils in 
the area have the compensating factor of a higher sugar content. 

But little corn is grown on this type, and much of the prod- 
uct is used for fodder. Twenty to 30 bushels per acre is a 
good yield. Other crops yield as follows: Oats 20 to 80 bushels: 
rye, 10 to 15 bushels; buckwheat, 12 to 15 bushels; peas, ]0 
to 15 bushels, hay, three-fourths ton to IV2 tons; and pota- 
toes, 75 to 150 bushels per acre. A rotation qiilte co.iimonly 
followed is corn or potatoes, oats, and hay, tlie mowing lands 
being left as long as they are considered profitable. '^-0 u«;u- 



34 RECOXXOISSAXCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

ally is put on the new fields, followed by corn or potatoes. A 
rotation liotter adapted to this type would be potatoes, field 
peas, and mixed hay, leaving the sod not longer than two or 
three years. The peas could be sold at a good price, the oats 
or other concentrates purchased. As more land is broken up 
and more stock kept, fodder corn could be grown in the same 
place in the rotation as potatoes. This rotation is only tenta- 
tive ; more satisfactory ones may be suggested by practice. There 
is no question, however, that better rotations than of com, 
oats, and grass, leaving the grass down for a long period, can 
be worked out and used on this soil. 

At present prices for the Fla infield sand range from $5 to 
$18 an acre for "wild" or unimproved land, depending on the 
location, and $30 to $50 for cleared land. 

The following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type: 



Mechanical analyses of 


Plainfield sand. 






Number. 


Descrip- 
tion. 


Fine 
gravel. 


Coarse 
sand. 


Me- 
dium 
sand. 


Fine 
sand. 


Very 
fine 
sand. 


Silt. 


Clay. 


22727. 22729. 2:273 1.22739. 
22728,22730.22732.22740. 


Soil 

Subsoil . 


Per ct. 
0.5 
.5 


Per ct. 

17.8 
17.2 


Per ct. 
30.9 
31.1 


Per ct. 
33.9 

38.8 


Per ct. 
5.8 
15.5 


Per etm 
6.5 
2.7 


Pej;ct. 
4.» 
S.O' 



DUNKIRK FIXE SAND. 

The soil of the Dunkirk fine sand consists of a gray to dark 
brownish-gray fine sand to fine sandy loam, with a depth of 8 
to 10 inches. From this depth to about 18 inches occurs a pale 
yellow fine sand and from 18 to 36 inches a brighter yellow, fine 
sand, sometimes slighth' mottled. 

The topography is level to gently undulating, although in 
some local areas sand dunes and eskers are so numerous as to 
give a hummocky surface. The type seems to be a delta deposited 
in glacial Lake Michigan or Lake Algonquin by streams from 
the ice sheet to the north and west. There is onh^ one area of 
this character in ^Marinette County. It extends from a few 
miles north of ^Marinette south along Green Bay to the county 



DUNKIRK FIXE SAND. 35 

line and is about 6 miles wide. Beyond the county limits it 
reaches south along the shore nearly to the city of Oconto, re- 
taining practically the same width as in ]\larinette County. The 
western edge of this area is somewhat more loamy than the rest, 
being influenced by the IMiami sandy loam. The old beach line 
of Lake Algonquin constitutes the boundary and is sharply de- 
fined in only a few places, being about 40 feet above the present 
level of Lake Michigan, while the average elevation of the Dun- 
kirk fine sand is probably about 10 to 20 feet above the lake. 

In its primitive state this type was covered with a thick 
growth of jack pine, red oak, and white birch, white and yel- 
low poplar, and some white and Norway pine, and in the wet 
places with tamarack and cedar. IMany scattered areas of Peat, 
slightly lower than those of the surrounding -soil, occur. Tlies-e, 
when cleared, or where not forested, are used for hay, of which 
from three-fourths ton to l^^ tons per acre of rather coarse 
quality is secured. Where forested, peat supports tamarack, 
cedar, alder, and a little elm, birch, and ash. The Dunkirk fine 
sand, as a whole, has a very flat surface. The water level is 
only 5 to 10 feet below the surface, and in many minor depress- 
ions the soil shows grayish white mottling, due to imperfect 
drainage. In wet seasons the higher lying fields give much 
the better results, while in dry seasons the reverse is true. 

This soil is a typical truck soil, but it is used at the present 
time mainly for general farming. Rye, hay, and potatoes are the 
leading crops; oats and little corn practically complete the list, 
The average yield of rye is 15 to 18 bushels ; of hay 1 to 2 tons, 
and of potatoes from 100 to 125 bushels per acre. Oats do not 
yield especially well, ordinarily 20 to 30 bushels per acre. Corn 
yields from 25 to 40 bushels, depending largely on the season. 

Owing to its proximity to the towns of Marinette, Menom- 
inee. Mich, and Peshtigo, to its productiveness under judicious 
management, and ease of cultivation, the Dunkirk fine sand is 
held at rather high prices — from $50 to $75 an acre. It is a 
type which responds readily to manure, and this fact, together 
with its nearness to market, makes the keeping of cattle espec- 
ially profitable. Dairying, mainly for the production of butter, 
is prominent on this type. A few are starting in the truck bus- 
iness on a small scale and doubtless in a short time the adapt- 



36 RECOXXOTfif^AXOK SiOlL SURVEY OF MARIXETTE CO. 



al'ility of this soil to tlie trucking industry will be more clearly" 
recognized, and an important business will be developed, with 
the cities of ^Marinette and IMenominee as the primary markets. 
Chicago and North AYestern Railway traverses the type, and 
this' fact, together with direct water transportation to Mil- 
waukee, Chicago, and other large Lake cities, will have an im- 
portant bearing on tlio development of the soil in the produc- 
tion of the less perishable kinds of truck crops. 

The following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analy.ses of the soil and subsoil of this type: 

Mechanical analyses of Dunkirk fine sand. 



Number. 


Descrip- 
tion. 


Fine 
gravel. 


Coarse 
sand. 


Medi- 
um 
sand. 


Fine 
sand. 


Very 

fine 

sand. 


Silt. 


Clay. 


227)7.22719.22721 

22718,22720.22722 


Soil 

Subsoil. 


Per ct. 

0.1 

.0 


Per ct. 
0.6 

.2 


Per ct. 
2.9 

5.4 


Per ct. 

59,8 

73.6 


Per ct. 

18.5 

16.3 


Per ct. 

11.8 

2.5 


Per ct. 
6.0 

1.8 



SUPERIOR FINE SANDY LOAM. 

The soil of the Superior fine sandy loam, consists of 6 to 8 
inches of gray to reddish medium textured sand. Underlying the 
sand, and rather sharply separated from it, occurs a stiff, tenaci- 
ous, very impeiwious red clay, the red color having a peculiar pin- 
kish red or light chocolate tinge. The clay subsoil is lacustrine in 
origin, liaving doubtless been laid down at the same time as the 
Superior clay near Green Bay, Duluth. and Superior. The 
scuidy topsoil is of later glacial origin, having been deposited 
on the clay by subsequent glacial action. This covering of sand 
is of varying thickness ; in some places the clay subsoil lies 
practically at the surf aee, while in others the sand is 2 feet deep. 

This type is found only in limited areas in Marinette County. 
The different isolated patches, north and south of Dunbar, ev- 
idently lie in an old drainage basin or depression. In general 
the topography is level to gently undulating, but the soil is 
nevertheless fairly well drained, as is indicated by the original 
timber growth of white pine. 

The Superior fine sandy loam is a very good general farm- 
ing' soil. Tts areal extent in ^Marinette Countv is so limited 



COLOMA LOAM. 



37 



as to make it eoiuparatively iiiiiinportant, but it is kuowu to 
be well adapted to clover and timothy for hay and pasture, to 
potatoes, and root crops. It is especially suited to strawberries 
and raspberries and other bush fruits. Some such special in- 
dustry will doubtless be developed on it in time, as the mining 
country to the north furnishes an excellent market for the fancy 
as well as the staple farm products. 

The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of 
the soil and subsoil of this type: 

M^chanual analyses of Superior fine sandy loam 



Number. 


Descrip- 
tion. 


Fine 
gravel. 


Coarse 
sand. 


Medi- 
um 
sand. 


iFine 
sand. 


Very 
fine 
sand. 


Silt. 


Cla.v. 


22757 

22758 


Soil 

Subsoil. 


Per ct. 
0.3 

.0 


Per ct. 
5.5 

0.4 


Per ct. 
14.7 

1.0 


Per ct. 
52.3 

3.3 


Per ct. 
13.6 

4.0 


Per ct. 
11,1 

53.6 


Per ct. 
3.2 

37.7 



COLOMA LOAM. 

The soil of the Coloma loam is a brownish fine sandy to silty 
loam, with a depth of 6 to 8 inches. The surface 2 or 3 inches 
often has a grayish color. From 8 to 18 inches the subsoil con- 
sists of brown s^ndy loam to loam. Below 18 inches there occurs 
an increase in the content of sand, and the subsoil as a whole 
is generally lighter and more sandy than the surface soil. 
Throughout the soil and subsoil are found many stones and 
bowlders. 

This stony loam soil, which is known locally as heavy hard- 
wood land, lies in the northwestern part of the county. It is 
derived from the weathering of glacial drift overlying granitic 
rocks of various kinds. The surface is very gently undulating. 
There is a difference of 10 to 50 feet between the elevation of 
the lower lands along the streams and the adjacent higher land, 
but the gentle slope as well as the character of the soil tends 
to prevent damaging erosiu. 

This soil covered with dense forests of hardwoods and hem- 
lock (PI. IV fig. 1), has a wide extent over Forest County and 
the adjacent region to the west. In IMarinette County it is un- 
developed agriculturally, and is still heavily timbered with hard- 



38 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

woods and hemlocks, iiiaiuly the latter-named tree. Prom- 
inent among the hardwood species are sugar maple, birch, elm, 
oak, and some basswood. Inroads upon the forest are now be- 
ing rapidly made by the lumber companies at Goodman and 
Wausaukee. There are one or two farms upon the type in the 
vicinity of the village of Goodman. (PI. IV, fig. 2.) 

The level of ground water in this soil is probably from 10 
to 50 feet from the surface, and sufficient well water for do- 
mestic purposes can very generally 1)6 obtained from the drift 
overlying the hard crystalline rock. The water is excellent, be- 
ing typical soft water. 

The Coloma loam, as just stated is still a virgin soil, un- 
opened to agriculture. The dense stand of hardwoods found 
upon it, however, is a good indicator of considerable natural 
fertilit}'. The excessive quantity of stone in places is an ob- 
jectional feature. On almost every section are areas too stony 
for successful cultivation, but such stony areas are generally 
small and can be conveniently devoted to wood lots or pasture 
lands, and most of the type is sufficiently free from stone to be 
used for farming. 

All the general farm crops can be grown on this soil, but it 
is probably best adapted to potatoes, oats, rye, peas, clover, and 
grasses. It is a favorable type for dairying, and a system of 
agriculture built about dairying as a leading industry is prob- 
ably the most promising. Corn for ensilage and also other 
forage crops can be grown successfully. By developing dairying 
as a leading industry, and giving some attention to sheep raising, 
the productiveness of the farms can be maintained or increased. 

The hardier varieties of apples can undoubtedly be grown 
for home use, and all kinds of garden liervies and vegetables can 
be produced. 

No values can be given for cleared farm lands on this type. 
Unimproved cut-over lands containing little or no merchantable 
timber, are held at $5 to $15 an acre. 

The following table gives the average results of mechanical 
analyses of the soil and subsoil of this type: 



MUCK. 



39 



Meclmmcal analyse,s of Coloma loam. 



Number. 


Description. 


Fine 
gravel. 


Coarse 
sand. 


Med- 
ium 
sand. 


Fine 
sand. 


Very 
fine 
sand. 


8ilt. 


Clay. 


22723. 22725 


Soil 


Per ct. 
0.4 
1.1 


Per ft. 
3.5 
5.1 


Per ct. 
5.5 
7.0 


Per ct. 

9.4 
12. S 


Per ct. 
19.9 
24.6 


Per ct. 
52.2 

40.1 


Per ct. 
8.6 


22724, 22726 


Subsoil 


7.8' 



MUCK. 



]\Iuck consists of a mixture of organic matter with a rel- 
atively small though varying proportion of mineral materials. 
It has been formed in areas of deficient drainage where a rank^ 
vegetation flourished. The organic part of the soil represents 
the accumulated decaying remains of plants and the mineral 
portion the more or less finely comminuted rock particles car- 
ried into the depressions by streaims or by the wind. The de- 
posits are often many feet in depth. 

The Muck is generally in a swampy condition. There are 
many such areas in jMarinette Count5^ They usually lie along 
the smaller streams, but occasionally form interstream areas 
of considerable' extent. 

Some of the wet lands along the streams are treeless and 
called "hay marshes" while other, generally overflow land, sup- 
port a growth of swamp maple, alder, white birch, and water elm. 
Much of the marsh and swamp areas comprise soils ranging 
texturally from IMuek to sandy loam, the determining factor 
in separating this type being lack of drainage rather than tex- 
ture. When drained some of the areas of swamp will be prac- 
tically the same as the surrounding type, while others will be 
more like true alluvial soil. Some of the overflow lands are 
very fertile and when cleared and drained will constitute the 
best soils on many farms. A few areas were cleared and used 
for wild hay. 

In addition to the swamps along the rivers and small streams, 
there are numerous swamps of greatly varying size, over inter- 
stream areas, paetieally all of which are covered with a more or 
less valuable growth of cedar, tamarack, or both. The largest 
of these forested swamps does not exceed 4 square miles in area, 



40 liECOXXOISSAKCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARIXETTE CO. 

and most of them could Ix' drained, adding a large area to the 
valual)l(' agricultui'nl land and taxahlo rosourcos of the eonnty. 

\(;n(' of tile heavy Mack Muck in the county is under iniltiva- 
tion. hut when di-ained this type is valuahlc for ti'uck crops, 
such as celery, onions, spinach, lettuce, and pei)perniint. 

PEAT. 

]\Iost of the Peat/ in ]\larinette County is situated iu the south- 
east corner adjacent to, or surrounded by, the Dunkirk fine sand. 
Locally the areas are called "peat bogs" or "hay marsh," to 
distinguish it from the swamps in which cedar or tamarack is 
always found. The true Peat is a level, usually treeless ex- 
panse, very wet in the spring and early summer, and support- 
ing a rank growth of marsh grass, cat-tails, mosses, and other 
water-loving plants and shrubs. 

The soil in tliese areas consists of organic marter in various 
stages of decomposition, and of varying depth, underlain by a 
medium to coarse grayish-white sand. The average depth of 
the organic material is about 2 feet. Tn places this covering has 
largely the character of JMuck. but for the most part it is 
more accurately described as Peat, being a brownish or dark 
brown mass of partially rotted moss, leaves, and other veg- 
etable remains of a spongy, coarse consistency. 

]\ruch greater progress has been made in developing this 
type than in the case of IMuck, owing to the proximity of the 
former to the cities of ^Marinette and Peshtigo. A]>out 2 miles 
west of ]\Iarinette a number of progressive farmers have fornied 
a drainage district and have successfully drained a large area 
of Peat by digging a deep canal through it. Considerable 
diffieult.v has been experienced during the last year, however, 
owing to filling in of the ditches by sand, brought in by seepage 
waters from the sides. Diking or ripra]iping may have to be 
resorted to. 

The State experiment station has had a cooperative station 
located on the Peat west of ^Marinette. Various experiments 
have been conducted there by the resident farmer, under di- 
rection of the station. 

AYhere farmers have both the Peat and the sandy soils it is 
best to reserve the manure to be used on the sandy soil and ap- 



SUMMARY. 41 

ply wood ashes and phosphate fertilizers to the Peat, because 
the sandy soils are benefited by all the constituents, especially 
the nitrogen contained in the manure, while the Peat, rich in 
nitrogen, respands to the potash, phosphate, and lime con- 
tained in the ashes. The ashes can be obtained in considerable 
quantities fi-oin the mills in Marinette and Menominee. 

ROCK OUTCROP. 

There are a few local areas in Marinette County in which 
ledges of the underlying rock outcrop in sufficient number 
to make such areas practically worthless for agricultural 
purposes. These have been shown on the map by symbols but 
are included in the areas of other soil types. The principal 
areas of this character occur in Tp. 37, R. 21, Tp. 38, Rs. 20" 
and 21, and Tp. 37, R. 18, although there are several smaller 
areas in other townships in the northern part of the county. 
The material composing these outcrops is mostly red and gray 
granite, and to some extent greenstone. 

In the areas mentioned above, the rock does not appear 
at the surface over the entire area, but does appear so frequently 
and is often so near the surface in the spaces between the 
actual outcrops, that little can ever be done with the 
land agriculturally. The only practical use is for forestry or 
pasturage. Outcropping ledges are by no means uncommon 
all over the area underlain by crystalline formations, w^hich 
embrace approximately the northern three-fifths of the 
county, but except where indicated on the map, are so infre- 
quent as to be practically negligible. 

SUMMARY. 

Marinette County is located in the northeastern part of 
"Wisconsin, and has an area of 1,413 square miles. 

The surface varies from nearly level plains to low^ undulating 
hills. The altitude adjacent to Green Bay is 580 feet, and in 
the northwestern part of the county about 1,500 to 1,600 feet. 
The drainage is through the Menominee and Peshtigo rivers. 

The climate is rigorous in winter and warm in summer, 
the mean winter temperature being 15.7° F., and the mean 



42 RECONNOISSAl^^CE SOIL SURVEY OF MAJtlNETTE CO. 

summer temperature 64.6° F. The average annual precipita- 
tion is 28 inches, about 20 inches for the growing season and 
8 inches for the non-growing season. 

The first settlement in Marinette County Avas made by the 
fur traders in 1791. The first farm Avas started in 1826. Agri- 
cultui-e. however, only liegan to be important in the period 
between 1870 and 1880. 

The county was originally heavily forested with pine, hard- 
woods, and hemlock. Practically all the pine has been cut, 
but heav>' stands of hardwoods and hemlock still remain in the 
northwestern part. A large part of the county is cut-over 
land. 

In 1905 about 20 per cent of the count^v was laid out in 
farms, and 6.7 per cent of the county was improved land. In 
1910, U. S. census, 24.2 per cent of the county was in farms, and 
8.7 per cent of the land area of the county was improved. It 
is estimated that the land that will finally be improved is 70 
to 75 per cent of the county. Agriculture, therefore, is still 
in its formative stage. 

Up to very recently the manufacture of lumber products has 
been more important than agriculture. At present, however, 
agriculture is as important as manufacturing, and will prob- 
ably be more important than manufacturing in the future. 

The population of the county increased from 5,057 in 1875 to 
33,810 in 1910. About one-half the population is on the farms 
and one-half in the villages and cities. Most of the population 
is native born. The foreign born are mainly from Canada, 
Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Denmark. 

The improved land increased from 16,989 acres in 1885 to 
79,474 acres in 1910. The value of the farms in 1885 was less 
than $1,000,000 and in 1910 $6,489,590. 

The county is well supplied with railroads and local markets. 
The city of Marinette, population 14,610 U. S. Census, 1910, is 
the county seat. A county agricultural school is maintained at 
Marinette. A State experimental farm, on sandy soil, is estab- 
lished at Crivitz. 

The soils are of glacial and alluvial origin, derived from 
limestone, sandstone, and granite debris. Seven types of soil, 



SUMMARY. 43 

•exclusive of Muck, Peat, and Rock outcrop or stony land, were 
mapped. 

The Miami fine sandy loam is undulating- land, and supported 
generally a strong growth of heavy hardwood and pine, most of 
which has been cut. It is the best soil in the county and 
suitable to all farm crops. 

The Coloma loam, undulating and often stony land, is still 
forested with dense groM'th of hardwoods and hemlocks. 
Though practically undeveloped, it is a fertile soil, as indicted 
by its dense growth of timber. 

The Coloma fine sandj^ loam is generally undulating to hilly 
land, and originally supported a mixed growth of pine and hard 
woods, mainlj^ oaks. This type is especially well adapted to 
potatoes, corn, oats, rye, peas, and clover. 

The Superior fine sand loam is relatively unimportant in 
extent, and consists of sand over a subsoil of red clay on level 
areas. It has about the same crop adaptations as the Coloma 
fine sandy loam. 

The Dunkirk fine said is low, level sandy land, associated 
with Peat land within the area of the former Algonquin Lake 
between Marinette and Peshtigo. 

The Colom-a fine sand is hill}' and iTndulating land, orig- 
inally forested mainly with white and Norway pine, and some 
jack pine, while the Plainfield sand is level, and is known as 
the jack pine plain type. 

The sandy soils — Dunkirk fine sand, Coloma fine sand, and 
Plainfield sand — are typical truck soils, but under present 
conditions should be devoted to general farming with oats, 
rye, corn, potatoes, and the soy bean as principal crops. 
Mammoth clover should be grown extensively in order to 
supply nitrogen and organic material to these sandy soils. 

The Muck areas have not yet been brought under culti- 
vation. The Peat west of Marinette has been cropped suc- 
cessfully M'here properly drained and fertilization by manure 
or wood ashes has been applied. 

The rough land of the area, that which is too stony to be 
cultivated, should be devoted to forestry or to sheep raising. 

All the soils of the area are given applications of barnyard 



44 RECONNOISSANCE SOIL SURVEY OF MARINETTE CO. 

manure, but very little commercial fertilizer is used. j\Iany 
of the soils, especially the sandy types, appear to be in an 
acid condition, and would be benefited by applications of lime. 

Fruit growing, especially small fruits and bush fr^^its, might 
well be extended. Apples, adapted toj the climate, do well 
on the hardwood types of soils, and with proper care have 
proven to be a profitable crop. Sugar beets are grown suc- 
cessfully on the Miami fine sandy loam. 

Dairying and stock raising are important industries in the 
county on all soil types, and should be increased, not only for 
the money profit to be derived, but also as an important means 
in conjunction with proper crop rotation, including the plen- 
tiful growing of clover and the use of fertilizers, in develop- 
ing a system of permanent agriculture. 






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